together and hasten his death XXV Faintness Against the faintness and pain of the heart it is good to keep the horse very warm and to give him this potion Take Herb Mercury a pound Gum-Dragon 4 ounces Myrrh 2 ounces Bruised Melilot 1 ounce Saffron half an ounce Fine Frankincense a convenient quantity all together pounded and mixt to a powder Which you are to keep for use and at each time take Oil of Roses two Cruises Water half a pint of the aforesaid powder two good spoonfulls Honey two spoonfulls for a potion This potion must be used for some dayes untill the horse beginneth to mend XXVI Over heated You must give to the horse that is heated in the winter through an horn the following potion Take Red-wine half a pint Oil three ounces But in the Summer Take Red wine half a pint Oil two ounces for a potion XXVII The Ague You may know amongst other tokens that a horse hath the ague when he can not make water his Ears Cold hanging and stinking The Ague of an horse is cured by letting him bleed on the vein which is found in the calf or thick part of the leg 4 fingers or thereabouts under the buttocks or else you may let him blood on the vein of the neck and if you observe that a potion is necessary then you must squeeze juice out of an handfull of Purslain and mix it with Gum-Dragon fine Frankincense and some few Damask-roses which give him to drink with a little Metheglin or Honey-water XXVIII Venemous Creatures swallowed down In case the horse in eating Hay or grass hath swallowed down any venemous beast as a Spider a certain kind of Lizard Earth Spider Snale or Dirt-Grubber Buprestis then you must make him run until he sweats next you must bleed him on the Palat and let him swallow down the blood You must give him to eat boiled Beans XXIX Lost Appetite or Stomach If he hath lost his Stomach wash his mouth with Vinegar and Salt and give him no Forrage nor Oats Hay Chaff or Straw but what is good XXX Hen-Dung Swallowed If the horse hath accidently swallowed down the dung of an Hen which brings Gripings of the Guts then you are to use this following Medicine Take Dried Ladys-Mark 2 ounces Honey and Wine a convenient quantity for a potion Give him this to drink and then lead him backwards and forwards untill his belly beginneth to make a noise and rumble and then he is clear from his Malady XXXI Cholick or Griping in the Guts Against the Cholick or griping in the guts Take Black Pepper two ounces The Juice and the Root of Jews-Ear Parsley Fenicle Marjoram of each an ounce Sage half an ounce Live-Honey about 2 quarts Boil it scum it well and make it of the bigness of an Haslenut to little cakes Which you must give the horse to drink with good wine about half a pint And on that day when he hath the Cholick then take Fennil-seed three or four spoonsfull and with a convenient quantity of wine you shall presently give it to the horse to drink and then cover him and make him sweat well XXXII Pain in the Belly Against the Griping or pain in the Belly you shall take tame or wild Rhue-seed pound it very small and with warm Wine make a potion thereof you may also put therein Cumin and Fennil-seed of each alike quantity next keep the horse warm and well covered in a close place but before you give him this potion you must mount upon him and ride him to and fro rather along high places than upon eaven ground And when he is in the Stable again then cover him with a good woollen cloth if he grows cold again then you must anoint his fundament with Oil until it is heated and breaks wind Farther it would do well also to put a Rod which is thick enough and half a foot long into his fundament well anointed with common Oil and made fast to the trunk of the fundament that it cannot go out and then mount upon the horse and ride him to and fro You must also give him to eat that which is of a warm nature and let him drink Water boiled with Cumin and Fennil-seed of each a like quantity adding thereunto Wheaten-meal a sufficient quantity and in a close place keep him warm and well covered XXXIII Obstruction or Oppilation The Obstruction or Oppilation is cured by potions and clysters the potion must be thus give him daily powder of wild Rhue with the seed soaked in good Red Wine Or Take Anise-seed and the Juice of Poppeys and Flower-de-luce Root a convenient quantity This all together being well pounded and beaten small you must add some Sugar-candy Red-Wine half an ounce Oil of Olives of each three ounces for a potion This you must give him at three times for three daies one after another Or a Glister made after this manner Take Marsh-Mallows and Cashe 2 ounces Juice of flower-de-luce a convenient quantity adding thereunto Oil of Bay-Berries Wine and Rhue of each 3 ounces Pigeon-Dung Salt-petre of each an ounce for a Clyster After the Clyster is applied you must lead the Beast gently to and fro Some Horse-Coursers have found this following receipt to be good in this Distemper Take Honey nine spoonfulls Pepper-Corns nine Hares-Dung a sufficient quantity adding thereunto a Decoctum of Fitches or Red-Colworts as much as is requisite for a portion XXXIV Falling of the Fundament If the Fundament be faln take fine bruised Salt spread it upon the hinder-gut and put it between the Rupture next take a piece of Bacon and put it therein in the form of a stick pell and lay thereupon Mask or Mallows until it is healed XXXV Worms Against the Worms give the horse to drink Water in which Rye has been boiled or with some Brimstone amongst Bread or burnt Ashes of the wood of Olive-tree Or take powder of dry Wormwood with the seed raw Lupinum of each an equal quantity being all together mingled in white Wine for a potion For to give it to the horse at three several times After these three daies you must make a Clister of these following things Take of Wormwood and Rhue a convenient quantity Adding thereunto two Ox-Galls straining them Alloes one ounce For a Clister XXXVI Flux or Looseness of the Belly Against the Flux or Looseness of the Belly there a is very good certain potion made of powder of Gall-nuts with white Wine and Starch mingled together Or in case that the Looseness is occasioned by Cold then give the horse to eat sops soaked in Red-wine and Rose-water Farther anoint his Loins and Belly with Claret-wine Oil and a little Salt mixt XXXVII Bloody-Flux Against the Bloody-Flux which is occasioned by the Forrage let the horse bleed on the vein of the shoulder next make a Decoction of Wheat with unsalted Grease and powder of dry Granado's skales strain it and make a potion thereof and give the horse
the Loins 57. Pains of the Reins Inflamation You may perceive that the Oxe has pain in his Reins when in Kacking or doing his Easement from behind he cannot set his Feet on those parts according to his will but stumbleth aside when he does not lift up his Tail but lets it hang when his Piss stinks much and all the Course is stopt and interrupted behind If he has an Inflamation and Pisses as red as Blood when it continues and increases then there is little Remedy to be had against it yet if it is but coloured a little reddish then there is some hope of recovery in this Sickness you shall let him blood out of the hinder Veins or Mother-vein which you find a long the side about the Reins For his dirnking give him the Juice of Garlick with luke-warm Water or else with his own Piss 58. Inflamation of the Brawns or Muscle Against the Inflamation of the Brawns as well inwardly as outwardly which proceed from the Rump and Loins by falling upon hard and Stony places and getting Bruises Let the Oxe which is fallen not go far from his place as soon as he is come into the Stable and wash the parts affected with cold Water next use an Ointment and Sear-cloths made of Oyl and Wax which must not be too hot The tokens of this Distemper are that the Loins the Reins grow hard outwardly the Stones lessen and go in so that you can but see them very little that he cannot well move his Thigh and that he can hardly rise when he lieth 59. Pissing of Blood The Oxe Pisseth Blood when he is over-heated or too cold or because he has eaten bad Herbs during the Summer especially when the Dew cleaves yet thereon The cure against this is that you give him neither Wanor any other Liquor but that you give him a potion made of these following Ingredients Take Sea-Oinion Hemp seed of each three ounces bruised together and add thereto Treacle one ounce being all together boiled in two pints of White Wine at last adding thereunto Saffron two ounces to a potion and this pour into the Mouth of the Oxe Or give him against Pissing of Blood the Juice of Lambs Tongue with good Oyl next take the Powder of Wild-Gourds Coloquints and Wine-stone mingled in Red Wine and the White of Eggs pouring the same into him through an Horn. And if you do not stop the Pissing of Blood then he will die thereof within four and twenty hours 60. Vnableness of Pissing In case he can hardly Piss then you shall let him Blood on the Vein of the Bladder and next give him a draught of Honey Oyl and White Wine being boiled together and this you must continue three mornings one after another 61. Stone of the Bladder If he has the Stone of the Bladder take Sea-fenicle two ounces Cloves a quarter of an ounce Pepper one ounce and a half being altogether bruised and mingled with lukewarm Water to a Potion But if the Stone when this is continued some days doth not fall out then it must be cut out 62. Stone in the Yard In case he has the Stone in the Yard then throw the Oxe down immediately hold the Yard with Tongs a little higher than where the Stone lies open the Yard on the side and take out the Stone next heal the Wound again with Turpentine washt four times in Horse-tail-water 63. Hardened Yard If the Yard be hardened then smear it twice a day with an Ointment of bruised White Mallow-roots and fresh Butter 64. Swollen Cods If his Cods are swollen by what cause soever it be then annoint them in the morning and at night with unsalted Hogs-suet or foment them with strong Vinegar in which fine Chalk and Oxen-dung have been soaked They hold it for a Natural Remedy that the Gall of a Dog healeth the Swollen Cods of an Oxe being often annointed therewith 65. Limping or Halting If he Limps and Halts because of Cold which he has suffered on the Feet then wash them with his Piss which is made warm but if it proceed from the superfluity of Blood which in the bending of the Joynts is sunk upon the Feet then you must divide or resolve it by rubbing or chafing and by drawing Blood by cupping but if upon this it will not go away you must cleave the Claw of the Foot at the end unto the Flesh and thus let it run out and bind the Joynts round about with a Leather-purse that no Matter may come thereunto until it is cured In case he limps by having strained a Vein then you must annoint his Foot with Oyl and Salt if it be occasioned by a swelling of the Knee then foment it with warm Vinegar or with a Decoctum of Barley and Flux-seed But howsoever it happens you must burn it and lay thereupon fresh Butter wash'd in Water and Vinegar and at last make an Ointment of Salt-butter and Goats suet or Grease If it comes by a Splinter or by a knock against a piece of Wood or Stone then bathe the place with warm Piss and lay thereupon Oyl old Grease and Tar melted together Nothing preserves him better from Limping than to wash his Feet with cold Water when they are disjoyonted and then to rub them with old Grease 66. Leg-out of Joynt If his Leg is out of Joynt or wrinched put it in again and when you have smeared it with Hogs-grease bind it fast with Straw 67. Broken Legs For to put it in again if broken you must draw with Cords the uttermost parts of the same on both sides perpendicularly that so the disjoynted Leg may be again put together and joyned as before this being done you must untie the Cords and bind round about it Tow of Flax that is made wet in a mixt on of the White of Eggs Bolus Armenius and Sanguis Draconis next bind it so fast that it may be joyned together again above the binding you must lay Tow of Flax made wet in Wine for to strengthen and corroborate the Sinews at last that the uppermost and undermost parts of the broken Leg may not be hardened or get any ill fashion or form as well by the binding up of the Wound as by the Chop or Cleft of the Leg you must annoint both parts with the following Ointment viz. Butter Oyl Turpentine of each one ounce mingled to an Ointment 68. Biting of Serpents In case he has been bit by an Earth-spider Serpent or by a mad Dog then smear the Wound with Scorpion-Oyl or Sope which has lain in Vinegar and wash him with a Decoctum of great Burs or with old Pickle 70. Stinging of Horse-flies or Hornets Against the stinging of Horse-flies and Wasps rub him with Lead-Ointment or Salve Cerays being soaked in Water and moisten the place where he feeds to drive away the Horse-flies with a Decoctum of Wormwood chare him with the same Decoctum but if he is stung then cleanse the place with his own
when the matter is run out put into the hollowness the lint or scrapings of Linnen made wet in Water Oil and Salt This Sickness must be cured immediately for if it continue long then there is not any hope of recovery XVI Squinacy Or Swelling in the Throat The Swelling in the Throat or Squinacy otherwise pain in the Throat and swelling of the Tongue requires first letting of blood on the vein under the Tongue or of the Palat and next a fomenting of the whole Mouth and Tongue with warm Water next an anointment of the Gall of a Bull or of Salt and Wine-Stone pounded in Wine-Vinegar The potion you must make in manner following Take Anniseeds one ounce Old Oil two pound Red-Wine half a pint Fat Figgs of each nine Let it be all together soaked well and make a Decoction thereof into which you must put rubbed Saltpetre and Salt a convenient quantity strain it and make it a potion Which you are to pour into the Throat of the horse twice a day to wit in the morning and at night about a pint Next you must give him to eat green Barley or Barley-flower with which you must mingle Salt-petre if you let the horse bleed it must be done in the Palat of the mouth XVII Waxen Kernels Struma Choaking or Strangling The Waxen Kernel Struma or Choaking which is engendred under the throat of the horse and falls down from a cold brain you are to prick him under the throat next to cover his head with a linnen cloth and to rub often with sweet-butter the whole throat especially the place where the swellings lye XVIII Distemper of the Neck Against the Distemper of the Neck pierce the flesh in five places on both sides of the throat with an hot Iron as sharp as an Awl put into each hole an Hoggs-bristle and let the same stick therein for a whole fortnight XIX Galled Neck When the Neck or the Back is galled by the pressing of the Saddle then you ought to lay upon the wound the leaves of black Brionia XX. Crick in the Neck Against the Crick in the Neck wash the place with luke-warm Wine next lay some Tow of Flax dipt in the White of an Egg. XXI Distemper of the Lungs Against the Distemper of the Lungs take a Snake cut off the head and taile the rest cut into small pieces and roast it on a spit gather together the fat or grease that drops from the same and use it against the Distemper XXII Pursiness or Short windness The Pursie or Short-winded horse ro wit which cannot well take his breath and though he is spurred and struck he will not go on but coughs very much drawing his breath painfully Nay in eating also he doth not cease from coughing This Distemper is very hard to be cured It is true as long as the Distemper is new and occasioned by dust of a dust-raising wind or by eating any uncleanness in his forrage there is some remedy against this Distemper to wit the letting of Blood on the Shoulders and by chafing or anointing the horse on the breast and the back with the warm blood of the Beast mingled with Wine and Oil of Elephant when you have continued that five daies together then the five following daies you must let him fetch through the Nostrils Lye mingled with Oil Next give him to drink this potion which is made out of the following kinds Take Roast Mustard-seed Living Brimstone Paradise-corn of each a like convenient quantity being pounded small and boiled together in Metheglin to a Decoction Or make a thick Composition thereof and of that you must cause him every day to take as much as the bigness of a Walnut with thick Red-wine which is very good and excellent or make a potion of the following things Take Galingal Ginger Clove or July-flowers Cummin Fennil Eggs. Saffron a little mingled with Wine of all take a convenient quantity for a potion And pour it into the mouth of the horse holding his head up high that he may swallow it down the more easily without permitting him to let his head fall down at least for the space of a good half hour to the end that the potion may run through all his guts Next give him green grass or reed or willow leaves to eat to qualify the heat of the potion but the horse must in the mean time eat nothing half a day before or afterwards Next lead the horse gently backwards and forwards with the halter or mount upon him and ride him gently to the end that he may not vomit up the potion This is a means to heal a horse that is pursy and short-winded if the distemper is not too old but if it be an old evil then you may help it with brand-marks and by cutting up the nostrills for the heat of the fire will hinder this shortness of breath and cause the breath the better to enter in and to issue through the nostrills give him also often times grapes to eat and sweet wine to drink Moreover there is another excellent remedy to wit a potion made of Agaricus and Fenugreek soaked in red wine or the blood of a little dog which is not above ten dayes old the same being given the horse to drink or the root of wild Cucumbers and Gall Nuts pounded with honey-Honey-water and making a potion thereof XXIII Cough The Cough is occasioned by many reasons sometimes it proceeds from the lungs and other parts of the body therabouts and sometimes out of other inward and most low members which have the operations there is not any thing better against this distemper then the snipping or cutting of the nostrills of the beast And in case that he doeth not mend then you ought to pour into his throat a good draught of this following potion Take Fenigreek and Flax-seed of each a measure Gum-Dragon Frankincense Myrrha Sugar The Bran of small Pease or Fitches of each an ounce being all together bruised small and sifted Lay it a soaking a whole night in warm water And the next day you must give the horse to drink thereof according as has been said this you must continue adding thereunto Oil of Roses until he is well recovered some lay five whole Eggs a mollifying for a whole night in strong Vineger and the next morning when they observe that the shell is become soft they cause the horse to swallow it down Farther you ought never to bleed the beast in any place whatsoever but you must at the same time continue to give him Gum Dragon with sweet Oil. XXIV Vlcers or Aposthumes of the Breast The Ulcers or Aposthumes of the breast cause horses to die immediately therefore as soon as the waxing Kernell of the breast swells up you must draw out the swelling without ceasing but in case a vein breaketh thereby then you are to tie both ends together with a Silk thred for the greater the swelling grows the more matter or filth it will gather
place before the eye of the Mare or throw over the Mare a Coverture of such colour as you desire when she is covered by the Horse The Quality of a Mare to be covered The Mare which you desire may have a good generation of Colts must not be under two years old nor above ten or twelve years considering that being of a colder temper than the Horse she is also weaker she ought also to be handsome of body and pleasant to behold The rump and the back broad well fed and such an one as hath not laboured long Mares that are full not to be put to labour when she is Big she must be fed and not put to labour nor be left in the cold but in the Stable while it rains to the end she may go her full time without danger How to order a Mare that hath Cast In case the Mare casts her Colt before the time then you must pound Oak-fern and give it her to drink mingled with lukewarm water through a horn but if she hath cast well you may touch the Colt with your hand gently but a small pressure or blow will hurt bruise it As soon as she hath foaled in the Stable you must comfort her with a potion of lukewarm water mixt with Salt and Flower giving it to her in the evening and morning at least for the space of three daies Next you must give her good Hay and Grain sufficient and keep her clean with strowing that she may afterwards rest at Leisure For this Entertainment affords Flesh to the Colts and makes them strong Marks of a good Colt A good Colt Horse or Stone-horse is known by big bones a good shape a little head and so dry or lean that he hath scarce any thing but skin and bones that hath little sharp and streight Ears great swelling black and clean Eyes very large Nostrils thin and lean cheeks the mouth split alike on both sides the Neck somewhat long and arch-like thin about the head a short broad back the Main curled thick and long hanging down on the right side a broad Breast standing out before and full of Muscles great Shoulders round in the Sides double Back close tite Belly the Stones eaven and small broad and sunk or depressed members a long Tail with thick and curled Hair bigg-boned leggs which are also dry lean and not loaden with flesh but long and streight round and little knees not turn'd inwards rough and round buttocks big and long thighs full of brawns and muscles black hoof hollow round and somewhat rais'd towards the knuckles and of a small Crown In a word such an one as is joyful quick pleasant and neither vicious nor sick for such are obedient and proper for labour such as is not stubborn affrighted greedy nor lazy in eating that does not dung much nor lye down in the water Moreover that your Horse be of a Bay-colour dark-red dapple-gray or pale-colour which is the best token of a strong or stout Horse And finally to speak of the virtue and handsomeness of a Horse he ought to have the Eyes Ligaments and Limbs of an Oxe the strength and feet of a Mule the hoofs and thighs of an Ass the throat and neck of a Wolf the ears and tail of a Fox the breast and main of a woman the courage of a Lion the sight and agility of a Serpent the pace of a Cat the swiftness of a Hare the sâ—…p or tread high the trotting from the gallop easie and pleasant light 〈◊〉 running quick and nimble in leaping and docible at the hand The Age of a Horse The Country-man ought also to have skill in knowing the Age of the Horse that he may let him work according to his strength The Age of the Horse is discerned by his feet and hoofs but most especially by his Teeth The Teeth of the Horse The Horse hath commonly eight and twenty Teeth although Aristotle speaks of thirty he begins to get Teeth the first three months and at the end of the year he has above and below on each side six Teeth After thirty months two alter above and two below and within three years and an half he gets on each side four Teeth more When he is four years old the Dogg teeth fall out and in their places come other Teeth Before the sixth year the great Cheek-teeth or Eye-teeth fall out and within the sixth year others grow in their room The same sixth year he hath all his Teeth which are altogether made hollow but after that time you cannot easily discern how old the Horse is In or about the Twelfth year you may perceive a strange vnusuall blackness in the teeth and observe that the older an Horse is the longer his teeth grow except sometimes when by overhard scrawnching or biting they shorten more and more In the tenth year the Temples of the head begin to sink and grow hollow sometimes rhe Eye-brows also grow gray and then the Horse shews in his fore-head a sad and sorrowfull Countenance hangs down his head is heavy has pale Eyes and gray haire in many other places and this happens ordinarily to those of a Bay Colour and Chesnut Brown and such as come neerest to black The speckled becomes white the white turnes to dapple-gray and sometimes a brownish colour He has also many wrincles on the upper Lipp according to the number of which vsually the years of the Horses age are counted The Curing of Diseases in Horses Further it concerns the Country man to be carefull of the Health of his Horses which may live at least till Twenty years of age and do good service all the while If he findes them in good health though lean he is to give them kiln dried Wheat or twice as much bruised or pounded Barley He ought to rub them well over every day in regard it does them much more good to be often rubbed and handled then to eat much Lean-Horse Besides a lean Horse may be made fat with little Kidney-Beans boiled mingled with Oats But if the Horse be so weak that he cannot swallow it down then you must strengthen and comfort him with a good deal of the yolk of Eggs and sugar which he must swallow downe Besides which Luke-warm water mingled with salt and Flower of Barley being given to the Horse in the morning and at night is an excellent thing to make him very fatt Likewise it is very good to give the Horse fower times a day a little Panick or Rice mingled with Bean-Flower and salt that he may not vomit up again which he takes THE Country-Man's GUIDE I. Head-ach Staggers and Madness THE great Head-ach and Madness of a Horse is cured by continual rubing of Ladies-mark Semel a kind of Bread so called Lettuce-blades cut small and fresh Straw mingled with it You must also let him bleed out of the vein of the brains or the temples or of both and put him in a dark and low Stable
thereof to drink every morning and let him not work all the time Likewise you must make a Plaister to lay upon the back on the Loins of a Thousand-knot an herb so called Bolus and the Blood of the sick Beast with strong Vinegar or course Claret mixt therewith XXXVIII Jaundise In the Jaundise this following potion is a special Remedy Take Tares and the seed of Ladies-mark one pound Let it boil together with Hops and good Honey a sufficient quantity well stirred and mingled together for a potion Give him of this to drink for eight daies together every day half a pint XXXIX Stoppage of Vrine In case the horse cannot make water which appears by the swelling of the Bladder and round about the Yard then you must give him to drink a Pottage made of these following Ingredients Take one pint of White-wine The White of ten Eggs mixt with Pushed Garlick a convenient quantity Or the Juice of red Cabbage or Coleworts mingled with White-wine In the mean time you are to withhold from him all Oats and Barley and to feed him with Hay only and such herbs as are convenient according to the season of the year if you can get them Farther it will be good to put into the sheat through which the Piss passeth a remedy or Physick made of Honey that is boiled with Sugar or a living Fly Louse or Wood-louse or a little piece of Frankincense and to lay upon the 〈…〉 and reins Oil mingled with Wine or to annoint the Yard with pounded Wormwood boiled in Vinegar and also to pour a pail of cold water upon his Stones These means are good when the Piss has burnt the aforesaid parts XL. Difficulty in making Water Against difficulty in making of water it is an approved Remedy to take five or nine Spanish-Flyes that are whole wraping them up in a Linnen Cloth which you must bind fast on the thighs of the horse and happen what will you must let it lye thereupon a long while for that promotes the Urin but you must have a care that you do not give it to the horse to drink when it is beaten to powder nor in Clysters It is good also to rub his Stones with a Decoction of an herb called Cresses or Nose-smart Pellitory of the wall and Garlick XLI Strangury Against the Strangury or difficulty in making water look before Sect. 39. of the inability of making water XLII Wolf or over growing of the Flesh Against the She-wolf the growing and over-growing of the Flesh which grows under the belly of the horse you are to cut the place and to prick it with a Lancet and next to anoint it in the morning and at night with an ointment of white Mallows Dialthea XLIII Rupture prevented Against Bursteness or Rupture Farriers say that there is not any better remedy than this following Take Ashes of Vine-branches or Olives seven ounces Oil of Olives Honey The Juice of Plantain of each three ounces Fresh Butter Rhue of each one ounce Onion bruised or pounded with white Wine or Decoction of Cicero a convenient quantity mingled Which will serve to give the horse at three divers times on three several daies together XLIV Rupture cured If the horse is burst or broken by being over-laden and too much burdened then lay upon his Loins a Plaister which is made of these following Ingredients Take Pitch Powder of Bolus Sanguis Draconis Mastick fine Frankincense of each an ounce for a Plaister You must lay the plaister hot upon the sore part and let it lie thereupon until it falleth it self when you touch it for then the horse is well again XLV Biting of the Spider-mouse The Spider-mouse Mus Francus oftentimes by his biting kills an horse It is a Creature as big in body as a mouse of Colour like a little weasel of a long back and of a short tail it takes especially hold of the Stones and makes four small wounds Thus to cure the venemous biting you must immediately pour into the nostrils of the horse bruised or pounded laurell or Bay-leaf with water and lay upon the biting or wounded place pounded cumin and garlick but if it swelleth then you must foment the piace with pickle or with a Decoction of Myrrh and spread thereupon powder of burnt barley or shells of Pomgranat Look also in the 23 chapter of the Ox or Cow XLVI Swoln Codds Against the swelling of the Cods make a Poltis of strong white wine vinegar and Salt anoint there-with the Stones twice a day XLVII Warts in the feet Against the hard Knobs or Warts on the feet by much going lay thereupon green Cabbage or Coleworts with old grease or suet of hoggs and mount on the horse ride him gently and the physick will penetrate and heal the part affected LXVIII Chaps in the Feet The Chaps in the feet are cured by burning the same with a round hot iron at the ends for this burning hinders the Chap from growing bigger Next you must anoint them with Bacon washed in divers waters or with Oil of Bay-berries mixt with Vinegar Mastick Frankincense and the yoalk of an Egg. XLIX Of old Swellings Against hard and old Swellings make an Ointment of these things following Take Rosin and Wax of each a pound Ammoniack and black Pitch of each half a pound Galbanum two ounces of common Oil a sufficient quantity which being mingled altogether make it to a Searcloth and lay it on the part grieved L. Bruised Back When the horse is hurt on the back by the Saddle or otherwise open it first and lay thereupon for three daies together tow or Flax dipped in the white of Eggs but if the pace is swoln and hardned then you may cure it with Colewort Pellitory Wormwood Bear-foot or Southernwood bruised and boiled together with fresh or unsalted Grease and laid upon the wounded place LI. Galled-Back Against a Galled Back Take two Onions boil them in water for a Decoction This you are to put as hot as the horse can suffer it upon the sore part and all the swelling will go away in one night Or otherwise Take beaten Salt mingled with Vinegar and yoalks of Eggs and therewith anoint it or wash the place with white Wine Vinegar and lay thereupon fine Lime mingled with Honey continuing these remedies so long till the flesh is grown again and the bones are covered therewith again that the hair may grow again bruise burnt shells of Hasle-nuts and mingle them with Oil and anoint the place therewith LII Biting of Flyes To preserve horses in hot weather from the biting of the Flyes you must rub their hair with the juice of Courd-blisters LIII To drive away the Flyes You may also drive away the Flyes from the ulceration if you lay thereupon Pitch and Oil or Grease mingled and melted together and spread thereupon Pease-flower LIV. Stiffness in the Joints When a horse hath either strained or stiffened his joynts he may be cured with the same remedy
For at this time generally she desires the Bull most which you may observe when the Claws of her Feet are swollen and also by her continual Lowing If the Cow is covered about this time she will cast her Câ—… about ten Moneths afterwards aboâ—… which time the new Grass will coming forth which will renew hâ—… Milk and tend to the better nourishing of the Calf That the Cow maâ—… the better conceive you must leaâ—… her lean to the Bull though on thâ—… contrary the Bull ought at the samâ—… time to be fat and well knuckled oâ—… full of joynts The Bull also ought tâ—… be rather long than tall of red Hairâ—… broad Shoulders thick Bones small Body yet round broad Breast short Head broad Forehead black Eyes short Horns long and rough Tail In case the Cow will not admit the Bull or that the Bull desires her not you may create them an appetite by holding before their Nostrils burnt Harts-tail or by using another mixture which we shall take notice of in chap. 28. concerning the Horse During the time that the Cow is full you must keep her from leaping over Ditches and from running through Hedges or Bushes of Thorns or Bryers Besides you must keep her a while in the Cow-house before she casts with good Fodder without milking her at any time for the Milk which she then gives is not good but becomes as hard as a Stone You must take special care to give her very clear Water which she loves as much as a Horse loves muddy thick Water for you must observe by the way that â—…tis a token of a good Horse when he stirs the Water with his Fore-foot before he drinks Of the Calf NOw concerning the young Calf You must leave it by the Cow after she has cast with a good strewing of fresh Straw renewing it often for five or six days together at which time you may remove the Calf to another place and carry it to the Cow from time to time to suck But if you find that the Calf will not suck but bubbles with the Teat not being able to draw Milk you must look under the Tongue and if you find there a whitish fleshly substance growing over the Tongue much like to the Pip you must cut it off without wounding the Tongue with small well cutting Cissers and wash the place with Water and Salt and well bruised Garlick broken which always prevents the Death of the Calf without which remedy the Calf often dies of this Distemper You ought also to be very careful in driving away the Lice which trouble the Calf and hinder his growth as doth the Scabs which is occasioned thereby which may be easily discerned when the Skin wrinkles These two Distempers are cured by annointing the Calf with Butter and will wholly be prevented if you rub the Calf twice a day with a handful of Straw and do not suffer his Piss to lie under him And you must be sure to keep him with fresh Strewing keeping his Dung from him When to geld a Calf THe Calf must be gelt in the morning before he goes into the field and before he is two years old and not later for this is the best time for his growing large When the Calf is gelt you must give him Hay chopt or cut small mingled with Bread until he gets his former appetite You ought not to geld him in the extremity of hot or cold weather or in the decrease of the Moon Marks of a good Cow AS for the Cow she ought to be of a middle size viz. long of bigness broad rump black Hair or speckled or with white and black spots the Winde-pipe great and hanging down of a great Belly broad Forehead black and great Eyes the Horns not short nor thin but even and black rough Ears hollow Cheek-bone great Mouth open and dropping Nostrils hanging down Lips long thick Neck broad Shoulders with a long Tail to her Heels small short and even Claws on the Feet broad Breast great and long Teats Concerning the Oxe THe Oxe Is inclined to as many Distempers as the Horse and to preserve him from the most common Distempers the Ancients did purge him at the end of each season of the year for three days together some with Lupin and Berries of Cyprus pounded together and soaked one night under the blew Heaven in Spring-water Others with Drugs according to the custom and diversity of the Countries You may understand that he is Sick when he eats nothing although he hath much fine Fodder lying before him There is nothing better thus to cleanse the most inward parts and to purge him than to let him often eat the remainder of Olives out of which the Oyl has been prest All kind of Sicknesses Assoon then as you see the Oxe to be Sick of what sickness soever it be then you must give him the following Purge made of Sea-onion Rhamnus and Common Salt boiled in Water and make it luke-warm with the same Water But you must neither give him to eat nor to drink before this Purge hath done its oporation But to preserve him the whole year along from Sickness you must give him in the beginning of the Spring of the Summer Harvest and the Winter a potion made of Leaves of Capers and Cypess soaked in Water and let it stand one night a soaking in a pot and continue this for three mornings All sorts of Pain Against all outward pain wheresoever it be in the Body which disables the Beast from going or acting with ease you must foment the place and lay thereupon a Poltis of Cammomlie Flax-seed and the Hetb Melilot 1. Wearied Horns If the Horns of the Oxe are wearied by drawing then to comfort them is by force to make the Horn fast in its place and next annoint it as also the uppermost parts of the Head for five or six days together with an Ointment of bruised Cumin Turpentine Honey and Bolus Armenius being all together mingled and boiled Next you must wash the Horn with a Decoctum of Wine wherein a good deal of Sage and Lavender has been boiled 2. Scaled Horns Or 3. Split Horns In case the Horn is scaled then you must foment it first with Vinegar Salt and Oyl mixt together and next lay thereupon old melted Hogs Grease or Suet and new Pitch or annoit him with this on the wounded place for five or six days and then the Horn will grow soft and the Clefts will go away 4. Broken Horn. In case his Horn is broken then take Turpentine 6 Ounces Gum Arabick one Ounce boil this to an Ointment and rub with this the Horn round about for ten or twelve days together which time being expired bruise Common Bolus mingled with the White of Eggs and spread it upon the Tow or Flax and lay it upon the wounded place and let it lie thereupon for three days together Thus when the Tow begins to dry then take it off and spread in
may run out next give him some Herbs and often Hay to eat but if it is so swollen that he loses his stomach and his taste and is often sick then you must open the Vein of the Pallate and not give him any thing to eat but Garlick which is peelled bruised and soaked with Leaves or other Green until he recovereth 27. Split Tongue If the Tongue is split beneath then annoint the cleft twice a day with an Ointment of Alloes Rock-Allum and Honey of Roses being mixt together Next wash it with Wine wherein Sage and other drying Herbs are boiled 28. Knobs under the Tongue If the Oxe has a little Knob which is fleshy under the Tongue then you must cut it off and next rub the place with Salt and Garlick pounded together then wash his Mouth with Wine and with little Tongs take gently away the small Worms which begin to come under the Tongue 29. Carnils under the Tongue In case he has Carnils under his Tongue and is much swollen then open it with a fiery-hot Iron or sharp Lancet next rub it with Salt and Oyl until the bad humour is run out at last give him to eat some young Herbs 30. Swollen Almonds Against the swelling of the Throat which is occasioned by a Cold Brain cover the Head with some Coverture and rub oftentimes the whole Throat with fresh Butter 31. To prevent Imposthumes in the Neck If the Neck is swollen and you are affraid of a Swelling with Matter and Filth then open it with a red hot Iron and put into the hole the Root of Hogs-bread of Nettles renewing oftentimes the same it is very necessary in this case that you give him to drink a good Cruce full of a Decoctum of Italian ...... and let him bleed 32. Bruised Neck If the Neck is hurt swollen and hanging down then let him blood at one of his Ears but if it is in the midst of both Ears lay upon the Swelling a Plaister of melted Oxe marrow and Cocks-Grease of each half an Ounce in Oyland Tar or melted Pitch and rub the Swollen parts with the Sword of Bacon whereon there is not any Fat and is of a Barrow Hog being warmed a little continuing it five or six mornings together 33. Neck deprived of Skin If his Neck be deprived of Skin put upon it a Plaister of Oxe-marrow taken out of the Thigh-bones Rue and the Grease of a Buck and Hogs-suet of each an ounce being melted and mixt together 34. Neck deprived of Hair If his Neck is deprived of Hair and bare then annoint the place with this following Ointment take Honey six Ounces Mastick four Ounces boil them together to an Ointment 35. Hardened Neck If his Neck is hardened let him stand some days without labouring in the mean time you must annoint the hard place with an Ointment of Butter Oyl Bacon and new Wax of each an ounce being melted and mixt together 36. Swollen Neck If his Neck be Swollen then make him an Ointment of Alaud-roots that are pounded and boiled in raw Honey Bucks or Sheep-Rue Hogs-suet new Wax annoint the Neck with this three times a day in the morning at noon and at night 37. Shoulders out of Joynt If the Shoulders be disjoynted or out of Joynt then put the Bones again in their place and bind them fast with Tablets of light Wood. 38. Crumpled Shoulders If his Shoulder is crumpled then you must blood him on the hinder foot on the far side but if they are both shrunk in then you must blood him on both Legs 39. Distemper in the Lungs The Distemper in the Lungs is such a mortal Distemper as well to the Oxen as to the Kine that there is not any Remedy against it but that you wash the Manger out of which they have eaten with hot water and well-scenting Herbs before you tie the others thereunto which in the mean time must be kept in an other Stable They get this Sickness by eating bad Herbs and corrupted Hay and through great superfluity of Blood but for the most part by Horse-piss especicially when you keep the Cow-house Clowsie Therefore you should neither let Horses nor Mares come into the Cow-house but Asses may and do much good for the Breath of the Asses keeps them from Distempers in the Lungs 40. Lung-Sickness Against the Lung-sickness give him the Juice of Liquorish with sweet Wine or put into his Ears the Root of Hazle-tree 41. Cough Against the Cough let him drink a decoctum of Hysop and eat Liquorisâ—… Roots being bruised with clean Wheat Some make them drink seven days together a decoctum of .... The Cough of the Oxen must as diligently be cured as the Cough of the Horses and you must not let the same last long or grow too cold the best way is to seek remedy against in the beginning Therefore you muâ—… powre into his mouth through a Horâ—… or otherwise an half Measure of Barleâ—… Flower and an whole Egg without Shill being boiled in a Can of Wine or take Poppies bruised in warm Water with dried Bean-meal that is brokeâ—… to shales or very small pieces anâ—… Meal of Pease being all well mingle together and give them that to eat early in the morning Old Cough Against an old Cough the following Remedy is very good Take dry of fresh Hysop two hands full boyl them in common Water as much as is necessary strain it and add to it two thirds of Starch mingle it together and give it to the Beast You may also mix with it Hysop Water a Decoctum of Hysop and Mint Against the same Distemper is good also the Juice of Liquorish being well squeezed out and given the Beast with Oyl of Olives Nay the Cough will never be grown so old but it may be cured and driven away with the Roots of Liquorish well cleansed and washt given in a Decoctum with Wheaten-meal The same vertue have also the small Pease or little Fitches being given him to eat or being set before him with Honey-water when he Coughs most 42. Difficulty of fetching Breath Against difficulty of fetching Breath put through his Ear or the great Skin of his Throat the Herb called Black Hellebore or Lions Paw 43. Heavy and Lazy If he is Lazy then give him every month bruised Fitches soaked in the Water which he drinks 44. Weariness To preserve him from growing weary too soon you must rub his Horns with Turpentine and Oyl mingled together But have a care that you do not rub him with this on the Mouth or Nostrils for those parts will be offended therewith 45. Ague Against the Ague which the Beast gets in hot Weather which appears by melancholly swollen Eyes and extraordinary Heat and is perceived by the touching of the Hide you must open the Vein of the Fore-head or of the Ears and give him cool Nourishment as Lettice and other such Herbs and give him cool Water to drink Against another kind of Ague which you may
Custom of the Countrey yet the best and most substantial Feeding is of dry Pease and Beans though its common in many inclosed Countreys to Feed a Swine exceeding full with Whay and many practise that way only giving them a Bushel of Pease or Beans to harâ—…en the Fat In some Countreys they â—…eed after other manner which for breviâ—…y sake I shall omit knowing that the Ingenious Country-man knoweth what way is best for is ends in that matter Sickness in Swine 1. THey are also subject to many Distempers and you may know that the Hog is sick when he lets hang his Ears and that he is duller and heavier than he is wont to be having little or no Stomack to his Meat but the certain way if none of these Symptoms appear is to draw out of his back a handfull of Bristles against the growth of the Hair and in case that the Root of the Bristles be white and clean then the Hog is sound and in good health but if that they are bloody or spotted then he his sick 1. Head-ach or Sleepy-Evil For the Head-ach or Sleepy-evil you shall let the Swine blood under the Tongue and give him Lettice Leaves to eat or give them Water wherein Stone Cropel is steeped 2. The Pox in Swine The Pox is cured by giving him Mithridate in Metheglin or by drinking the warm Blood of a Lamb or give him Common Oyl with Pepper 3. Eating of Yarro In case the Swine hath eaten mad Chervile Millfoile or Yarro called in Latin Cheliophilon then give him to drink a good quantity of Water wherein Wild Cowcombers are boyled leting it stand before you give it him till 't is but luke-warm and that will vomit him 4. Diseases in the Eyes Are Cured with the Juice of Bittany or Horse Leeke or the Blades of Sallendine beaten in a Morter and laid upon the Eyes mixt with Wine or the Powder of Sepia blown into the eyes or dry the Yolk of an Egg to powder and blow it into the Eyes 5. Ague or Feaver Against the Ague let the Hog blood in the Tail 6. Measles prevented The Hog is especially subject to Measles it proceeds from Gluttony and over-eating now there is three especial signs of Measles viz. If you be-behold under his tongue small black Blisters or that he cannot stand on his hinder legs or that his Bristles be bloody as aforesaid this distemper is prevented by carefulness in the feeding and that they go into the Field in the open Air. 7. Rheum or Catarrhe Rheum or Catarrhe are cured by Bons Brimstone in a Fire-shovel and letting the smoke up the Nose or rub the Swines Mouth with Garlick bruised with Salt or bruised Laurel Leaves 8. To prevent Vomiting You shall let him stand fasting set up in some obscure place one day and night that he may consume the superfluous Moisture and recover again to his former Appetite Some have prescribed Medicines but the most experienc'd thing this way is the best 9. Measles Cured Let the Hogs that are Measled oftentimes wallow in a Bath in Sea-water and for lack of Sea-water let the Owner make a Bath of Water well boiled and salted and put it into a convenient place where the Hog may wallow therein and mingle with his meat bruised Garlick and give him the Rhine of Grapes or Goosberries or give him Roles of Leaven with his Meat 10. Plague or Disease in the Milt Swine are much inclined to the Plague and swelling of the Milt which very often seizeth such unclean Bodies because they eat foul and unclean Meats The best Cure for this Malady is to give them Honey Combs and whatever proceeds from Bees 11. Swelling of the Neck Against Rheum or Swellings in the Neck the best Remedy is to let the Swine blood under the Tongue 12. Aposthume or Swelling in the Throat Against Aposthumes or Swelling of the Throat mix the fine Flower of Wheat with Salt and rub the Sore therewith 13. Imposthumes in the Body See the 12 Chap. of the Swine 14. Diseases of the Gall. The over-flowing of the Gall in many times a Disease that befalls Swine the best Remedy is to give them Saffron mixt with Metheglin or Honey and White Wine let the Swine drink half a pint 15. To kill Lice or Ticks Take Linseed Oyl and Salt mix them together and rub the Swine all over therewith and it will free him from Vermin 16. To prevent Thirst Swine are subject to a Thirst whereof some have died which most frequently happen in the Dog-days the best that you can do for them is to drive them to some sweet River where they may lie down and bathe themselves 17. A great Cough or Cold. The Cough in Swine is cured by giving them Colts-foot and Lingwort boiled in Metheglin or take half a pound of Honey and a quarter of a pound of Liquorish boil them in a gallon of Water till half be consumed and let the Swine drink it luke-warm or give the Swine Gum Dragon and sweet Oyl 18. Belly-ach The Belly-ach is cured by giving the Swine Black Pepper boiled in Meâ—…heglin or take three spoonfuls of Fennile-seed mixt with White Wine and give it the sick Swine letting him swill 19. Lameness If the Swine be Lame so that it be ulcerated then drop into Wine Turpentine and Oyl very hot or take Honey and fresh Grease and spread them on a Plaister of Leather and lay it on the Wound 21. Flux For the Flux or Looseness in Swine give them to drink Vinegar and Milk mixed together and give them to eat Gall Nuts pounded and mixed with Starch and Wine Vinegar 22. Broken Legs or Joynts To cure Broken Legs or Joynts annoint the place with Sheep-suet and bind up the Broken Legs or Joynts with Straw or annoint it with the following Ointment sweet Butter Oyl Turpentine of each an ounce mix them to an Ointment An Alphabetical TABLE of the Diseases in Horses and their Cure A AGue of a Horse 15 Head-ach 17 Aposthumes 33 Tooth-ach 23 Ague 35 B Belly-ach 38 Bloody Flux 43 Biting of the Spider Mouse 47 Bruised Back 49 Back galled 50 Biting of Flies 51 Broken Loins 51 Biting of a Mad Dog 58 Biting of a Water-snake 59 C. Colts of what Colour you will 9 Coldness or Chilness 18 Catarrhe 19 Canker 23 Cough 32 Chollick 37 Chaps in the Feet 49 Chaps between the Joynts and Legs 56 D Difference in Breeding Mares and Stone-Horses 6 Difficulty in making Water E Pain in the Eyes 21 Web in the Eyes 20 Watering Eyes 21 Pin in the Eyes 20 Wounded Eyes 22 Eye Scars 22 F Feaver 24 Faintness 34 Fundament fallen 41 Flux 42 Flies droven away 51 Fashions 46 Fistula's 60 Fidge 60 Hound-red 61 G Glanders 19 Griping of the Guts 37 H Over-heated 35 Hen Dung swallowed 37 I Jaundice 43 K Knees swollen 55 Knees wounded 55 Knees over-grown 55 Kibe Heels 63 L Lean Horse made Fat Disease in the Lungs 28 Looseness 42 Leprosie 56 Lame 63 M To manage a Horse 4 Head-strong 4 When a Mare hath a desire to go to Horse 8 Marks of a good Colt 11 Madness 11 Mad Love 18 Mangy 52 Mallender 57 N Distemper in the Neck 27 Galled Neck 28 Crick in the Neck 28 O Ordering of Horses 1 Over-heated 1 Ordering a Mare that hath a Fole 11 Obstructions 39 Opilations 39 Old Swellings 49 Over-growing of the Hooff 60 Over-stepping 64 P Want of Pallat 24 Pricked in Shooing 61 R Rheum 19 Running of the Nose 19 Rupture prevented 46 Rupture cured 47 Ring Bone 59 S Staggers 17 Swelling of the Throat 26 Squincy 26 Struma 27 Strangling 27 Stomach lost 36 Stoppage of Vrine 44 Strangury 45 Swelling of the Cods 48 Swelling of the Flanks 41 Scabby 52 Sinew-struck 53 String-halt 57 Spavin 58 Sirachis T The time that a Mare may be covered 7 8 10 V Vlcer 33 A Venemous Creature swallowed 36 U A flying Worm 22 Waxen Kernils 27 Wind short 29 Worms 41 Woolfe 46 Warts on the Feet 48 Woolfe or Boil on the Foot 63 Y The Yalloes 43 Reader I Have only given you an Alphabetical Table of the Diseases in that part which treats of Horses and the other part which treats of Cows Sheep and Hogs hath a compleat Table fore-going the particular Medicines ERRATA PAge 16 line 10. r. much feeding p. 31 l. 10 r. Aristolochia p. 92 l. 4 r. Barefoot p. 101 l. 15 r. Popes c. General ordering of Horses Over-heated The Carter ought to be skilled in making Saddles c. The Stable to be kept clean How to manage a Horse Head-strong Gelding Difference in the manner of breeding Mares and Stone-horses The Cow when to be covered The Gelding of a Calf Marks of a Cow Of the Oxe